What happens if you drink too much/too fast?

I'm 3days post-op, and i've been doing my best to sip, sip and sip some more. Yesterday, I got about 40g of protein in with a 20oz isopure, and about 30 oz of other fluids (mainly water) plus popsicles.

Today, i'm on track to drink about 64 oz and 50 g of protein. I've only felt a slight discomfort in my chest when I drank some broth too fast.

 The nurse from the hospital called and asked so I was honest about my protein intake and fluids, and she wasn't very happy, and told me I needed to drink more. My discharge instructions said NO MORE than 30 cc per 30 min (which makes it impossible to drink all that they want). I've drinken slightly more than that, but have been a little paranoid. The nurse said I should be able to drink 4-6 oz an hour. Sounds fine to me -

I guess as long as im taking little sips, and taking a break between sips, I should just drink as much as I can without causing discomfort? If I drink too much will it be obvious?

Im also irritated because my discharge papers said not to take my vitamins until a follow up appointment, but she said I needed to be taking them immediately. Someone needs to do a little better coordinating accurate info.

Take your time....

i am about 2wks out today and i can tell u it was imppossible to get all protein and liquid in if you plan to sleep the first week...each person is different though.  i just focused on getting liquid.  try your best with the protein.  you will want to follow your docs instructions, but i was told to start a multi vitamin chewable prior to surgery, but others could be started within a month of surgery.  this is probably because we will have a hard time swallowing too much liquid to go with pills.   

you r doing great with the protein 3 days out.  i don't believe i got 40 grams in the 1st 3 days!!!

We had our surgery on the same day. I feel great, but there is no way that I can drink the amount that you are drinking already. It took me over 2 hours to drink about 12 ounces and another 2 to recover from it. I had to keep getting up to make myself burp. The liquid is sitting on top of my chest. I wouldn't feel rushed. I will drink more later and even more tomorrow, but when I feel the urge to stop- I stop.

Due to my almost complete inability to sleep, I've been sipping since 6am and can't even fall asleep for a nap. Lots of sipping time!

My surgery was Friday also. They want me to get 4-8 oz down an hour. I got down the 8 oz shake and have been sipping. If I take a pain pill I doze off. I'm about to get my injury soup for another 20 grams so I am under goal but doing what I can.

It gets better by the day though.

While I am awake I work on getting 4oz of liquid a hour. If I get more then that, well yay for me! But I have been sleeping off and on. My NUT just wants me to make sure I get my liquids for this week. Not to worry so much about protein on this cleat liquid stage. Hopefully after my post-op exam on Friday I can move to full liquids.

I tried to hard to do the protein drinks, and didnt get enough fluids in, so now I'm borderline dehydrated. I'm just doing water and crystal light for the rest of the day - the nurse can bite me :-p

Ally,

Just keep constantly sipping. It gets better. I'm 6 weeks out and can actually gulp water now without pain. Everyone is different but it does get easier. May a conscience effort to sip every 10 seconds if you can. I know they say don't use straws but I found it a lot easier now to get my fluids in when I'm drinking from a straw. Just my 2 cents! I'm so proud of you my friend for making this decision!! 

I'm here if you need anything. Please feel free to email me or IM!! 

xoxo,
Mandi 

I did alright taking in 1oz every 15 mins while I was awake during the first few days home. I started experimenting with doing more than that, finding out how much of a swallow I could take, etc. around the 5 day mark and managed to get through a full protein shake (12oz) in about an hour by drinking it close to how I would have pre-op.  I talked about it in one of my blog posts.

As for your question about what happens if you drink too much/too fast, it feels a lot like how it feels when you drink soda too fast and get that painful gas bubble in your esophagus.  It sucks for a few seconds, but then it goes away pretty quickly... sometimes followed by a burp, sometimes not.